People can oscillate between these stages too, but the idea is to adapt your coaching style to suit the stage of the person:

S1 - Give very specific instructions and plenty of feedback.
S2 - Coaching. Praising. Explaining and encourage/guide person to come up with the solutions themselves.
S3 - BE supportive, reassure, collaborate with them. Help them to solve problems for themselves.
S4 - Just let them get on with it, but acknowledge their achievements and provide them with challenges.

Just a curious parallel.

Very interesting, thanks. I guess I shouldn't be surprised to see these patterns in another context, it's just the way in which people's minds work. I like the idea of having specific responses tailored to each stage. It makes a lot of sense.